Message
from the International
President

In the years since the last presidential address, at least three important and positive events have taken place. I am happy to be able to thank all those who have had a hand in them. First and foremost, Logan Whalen, who, now for the second time, is responsible for the appearance of Encomia in its new digital format. Thanks to Logan and to the cooperation of the secretaries and bibliographers of all the national branches, the switch in form, along with a change in publishers, has now successfully been achieved.

Secondly, we must all thank the organizers of our meeting in Lisbon, Margarida Mudureira, Ana Paiva Morais, and Carlos Carreto, who have overseen the publication of the Acts. A choice collection of contributions, vetted by an independent committee of scholars, has just appeared in print. Our colleagues have spared no effort in bringing out these studies, which will be a beautiful memento of our Portuguese Congress.

Finally, the Lexington Congress, masterfully organized by Gloria Allaire, has also been a scholarly as well as a cultural success. In particular, we Europeans have come to appreciate the culinary and artistic riches of a region that few among us know.

Between our American branch and those further to the East, the sun never sets over the kingdom of the International Courtly Literature Society.

Richard Trachsler

International President, ICLS

(2013–2016)